The United States’ recent decision to remove the Mojahedin Khalq Organization from its list of foreign ‎terrorist organizations will have no impact on the public perception of the group as a notorious ‎terrorist entity. ‎

‎The move was a carbon copy of what the European Union did several years ago, and it is a clear ‎example of the double standards the U.S. government applies in dealing with the issue of terrorism. ‎

‎Over the past few years, Washington has labeled many Muslim governments and organizations as ‎terrorists, only because of their brave resistance against the hegemonic policies of the West. ‎However, the MKO has admitted that it has killed more than ‎‏16,000‏‎ innocent citizens and government ‎officials of Iran, and no one can deny that the group is terrorist. The United States’ double standards in ‎dealing with the issue of terrorism and its blatant support for groups like the MKO will certainly ‎encourage other terrorist organizations to expand the scope of their carnage. ‎

However, the Iraqi government recently decided to close down Camp Ashraf, which was the last ‎sanctuary of the MKO on Iraqi soil. The move greatly angered Washington, since U.S. officials had ‎made every effort to save the camp, which many political analysts say is being used as a strategic ‎platform for pressuring the Iranian government and nation. Despite the massive amount of pressure ‎imposed on them by Western governments, the Iraqi people and government stood firm on their ‎legitimate demand and showed that they are opposed to anything that undermines Iraq’s national ‎security. ‎

The amicable and brotherly relationship Iran and Iraq currently enjoy has its roots in the two countries’ ‎common cultural and religious values. Thus, the U.S. decision to delist the MKO is expected to have no ‎impact on these friendly ties. Time will prove that legitimizing the activities of a notorious terrorist ‎group will harm the national interests of the United States more than the interests of any other ‎country.‎